Bedstead



(No Model.)

w P. P. MURPHY.

BBDSTEAD.

N0. 536,644. Patented Apr. 2, 1895.

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THE durum Farms co PHOTO-LITHO.WASNINGYON n L and in places where it is important or de- UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

PETER F. MURPHY, OF MILWAUKEE, wIsooNsIN'.

BEDsTEAo.

SPECIFICATibN' forming part f Letters Patent No. 536,644, dated April 2, 1895. Application filed May 4, 1894. Serial No. 510,069. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER F. MURPHY, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bedsteads, of which the followingis a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive, strong and durable bedstead, adapted to be readily folded together into compact form; the parts to be adjustable with reference to each other; and some of the parts especially the bed bottom being conveniently detachable from the posts; the bedstead being especially adapted for use in hospitals,

sirable to fold up or remove the bedstead for the purpose of cleaning, or for utilizing the space occupied by the distended bed.

The invention consists of the apparatus and its parts hereinafter described and claimed, or their equivalents.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective of my improved bedstead. Fig. 2, is an elevation of the bedstead, as it appears when folded up. Fig. 3, is a detail. Fig. 4, is a detail in modified form of construction.

For convenience of construction, and for securing strength of parts with the minimum of weight, 1 preferably construct the principal parts of my improved bedstead of tubular steel pipe.

In the drawings, A A are the head posts constructed of wrought steel pipe, being thus conveniently made integrally and united at the top. These two posts are connected by a cross bar B which at its extremities turns by screw thread into the sleeves O O on the posts A. The foot posts A A are similarly constructed and provided with a bar B turning into sleeves O C. The sleeves'O and O are fitted tightly on the posts A and A respectively.

The bed bottom is so supported on the posts as to be readily detachable therefrom, and is so secured on the side rails of the bedstead, as to be readily swung or tilted up thereon, thus providing for usingthe bed bottom as and for a stretcher, and for folding it up either for the purpose of cleaning beneath it or for packing it for transportation. For this purpose the bed bottom D, of any flexible material, as heavy canvas or woven wire, is secured at its two ends respectively to the head 5 5 and foot rails E E conveniently by means of securing bars or straps F placed against the ends of the bed bottom material and secured to the rails by bolts or screws. The extremities of the rails E E are fixed in projections on the sleeves G G loose on the side rails H H. The sleeves G are prevented from moving inwardly along the rails H and H by pins I inserted in the rails, and against which the inner ends of the sleeves bear movably. These rails H H are formed of steel pipe, and near their other extremities are screw threaded and provided with nuts K, that turn on the screw threads against the inner ends of the sleeves G, and are adapted to adjust the sleeves on the rails, thusproviding for tightening the bed bottom and holding it at proper tensionlengthwise. Pins or lugs L secured firmly to the side rails H at their extremities, project downwardly therefrom and enter removably vertical and preferably tapering apertures therefor in the sleeve brackets M, M, adjustable on the posts A A. The lugs L are advisably in the form of tapering pins provided with enlarged heads, into which the ends of the side rails turn by screw threads. The sleeves M are secured adjustably to the posts by means of holding screws N. The sleeves G are preferably provided with shoulders P adapted to engage the pins I, and limit 8 5 the revolnble movement of the bed bottom on one or theother of the side rails, when the rails are supported on the posts.

It will be understood, that as the lugsL are removable from the brackets M, that the bed bottom and its frame including the side rails, may readily be lifted from the posts and util-. ized as a stretcher, and that when utilized, the lugs are adapted to serve as little legs or feet, for the support of the bed bottom, when set down, while being so used as a stretcher and removed from the head and foot posts of the bed; also, that as the sleeves G and G are revolubly loose on the rails H, that either one of the rails may be lifted from the brackets rco M and the bed bottom tilted up by revolution of the opposite sleeves on their rail, in the manner shown in Fig. 2, and that thereupon the head frame and the foot frame (formed of the head posts and the foot posts and their connecting bars) may be folded inwardly against the bed bottom, in the manner shown in Fig. 2, thus contracting or packing the bedstead together in very small compass.

In Fig. 4 a detail of a modified form of the device is shown, in which angle iron R is used for the head and foot rails instead of tubular pipe as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with bed posts and socketed brackets thereon, having vertical tapering apertures adapted to support rails of the bedstead, of side rails on which a bed bottom is mounted, and taperinglugs secured to the extremities of the'side rails, said lugs extending downwardly from the rails and entering detachably the brackets on the posts when used as a bed, end rails provided with terminal brackets fitted revolubly on the side rails, the construction being adapted for removing the side rails from the posts by lifting them up, or for tilting up the bottom by lifting the rail at one side from the posts, substantially as described.

2. The combination with bed posts having brackets thereon adapted to support rails of the bedstead, of side rails supported detach ably and nonrevolubly in the brackets, sleeves revoluble on the side rails, and end rails fixed in the sleeves whereby the bed bottom on the rails can be tilted up laterally by rotation of the sleeves on a side rail, substantially as described.

3. In a bedstead the combination with four vertical posts having sleeves adjustable thereon adapted to support a bed bottom frame thereon, of side rails provided with lugs adapted to enter detachably the sleeves on the posts, and head and foot rails fixed in sleeves revoluble on the side rails whereby the head and foot rails and one side rail may be tilted up, and the head. and foot pieces may be folded against the so upturned, bed bottom frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER F. MURPHY.

Witnesses:

O. T. BENEDICT, ANNA V. FAUST. 

